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BAMkids presents Brown Rice Family and Afro-Caribbean Dance and Drumming Workshop
In Partnership with Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
BAMkids is proud to be a part of the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival! With a free performance hub at the Plaza at 300 Ashland, DBAF celebrates the arts in the Brooklyn Cultural District, the epicenter of the borough’s art and culture.
BAMkids presents BAM teaching artists Okai Fleurimont and Yasmar Cruz who will introduce families to Afro-Caribbean rhythms and movement, followed by an energetic performance by Brown Rice Family.
For more information on the Downtown Brooklyn Arts Festival, click here.
UPCOMING Performances
RUNNING TIME
VENUE
The Plaza at 300 Ashland
TICKET INFORMATION
Leadership support for
BAM’s strategic initiatives provided by:
Leadership support for BAM Access Programs provided by the Jerome L. Greene Foundation
Leadership support for programming in the
Howard Gilman Opera House and off-site programs provided by:
Leadership support for
BAM’s strategic initiatives provided by:
Leadership support for
BAM Community programs provided by
The Thompson Family Foundation
MEET THE ARTISTS
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Brown Rice Family
Brown Rice Family is the band jamming towards global solidarity and organic happiness. It is a high-energy ensemble that combines an eclectic mix of musical influences encompassing reggae, hip-hop, dance-hall, Brazilian, Afro-beat, jazz styling, and Latin.
With its members hailing from all over the world (Japan, Jamaica, Haiti, US, South Africa), Brown Rice Family draws on its diverse backgrounds to set the stage for their unique, colorful, rhythm-driven, and highly danceable sound.
Brown Rice Family
Okai - vocal, percussion
Sticky Rice - vocal, dance
Soils - keyboards
Yuichi - percussion -
Yasmar Cruz
Yasmar Cruz is a Puerto Rican artist, educator, and nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience, based in New York City. She holds a B.A. in performing arts and public relations from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master’s in dance education from the City University of New York. In NYC, she has worked with youth educational programs and nonprofit organizations developing, implementing, evaluating, and delivering culturally relevant curriculums for over 2,000 students. As a guest artist for dance companies, she performed in opening acts for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Macy’s Day Parade, Lincoln Center galas, and as part of the opening performances for The Annual Puerto Rican Day Parade with Danza Fiesta. She is a recipient of the Cycle IX Innovative Cultural Advocacy Fellowship(ICA) from the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute in New York City. In 2021, she received the Communitas America Community Impact Award for her holistic wellness initiative incorporating dance and yoga with BIPOC women during the pandemic. In May, she was appointed as Director of Education and Programs at Casita Maria Center for the Arts & Education.
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Okai Fleurimont
Okai Fleurimont is a vocalist, percussionist, and producer who embodies all the music of the African diaspora. Born in Brooklyn of Haitian descent, young Okai was beating on anything that he could get his hands on to help his imagination grow. His ears became infected with the hard boom bap drum loops of hip-hop and roots music from the Caribbean. Those sounds led him on a musical path to find rock, jazz, samba, salsa, rumba, and pretty much anything that involves percussion. Okai began his path of percussion on the trap set playing for various churches, then playing congas for his high school band for several years before being introduced to the West African djembe, which he concentrated on for more than 10 years.
Check the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership webpage for other events at the festival!
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